Play

MINI GRAS is a night to gather, to listen, to speak and to be heard. While the Mardi Gras festival burns brightly in the inner city the Joan will play host to a small spark of creative energy designed to engage the LGBTI community of Western Sydney and our allies.

New writings will make their way to open readings, local musicians will share the songs they love to share and community leaders will discuss, debate and debunk some of the mythologies around what it means to be ‘out’ and out West.

Saturday, Feb 28 2015 6:00pm

6.00 – 7.00pm: The Wild Wild West

Join us for a panel discussion on art, Western Sydney, gathering spaces and the LGBTI community with speakers from ACON, Headspace, NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby and the Joan.

7.30 – 8.30: Uncle Harold (the Naked Young Man)

Sit in on a play reading of a new work by established, local playwright Dale Turner. Uncle Harold is a presently poignant story of past sexualities, history and family.

8.30 – 9.15: Queer Sounds

Grab a drink and listen to the sounds of John Milligan. John is an up and coming musician and musical theatre maker who will be playing some of his favourite anthems to round out the perfect Mini Gras experience.

As darkness falls on the city, step out of the shadows for an evening of dangerous glamour and wicked indulgence at the Justice & Police Museum.

Travel back to the underworld of 1920s and 30s Sydney and be entertained by mysterious illusionists, burlesque dancers, speak-easy musicians and fortune tellers.

Spend time in the lockup with a true-crime storyteller, shoot your own silent-film scene or have your mug shot taken in the charge room. Unleash your dark side and design your own tattoo, contribute to a City of shadows crime-zine and learn razor-sharp card tricks.

Jack likes David. David likes Jack. The story seems simple enough. Add to this a public debate about how they like, why they like and what they like; Jack and David become confused quickly. Emerging Sydney based artist Nick Atkins enters a world where giants dwell in the suburban houses of Australia, beanstalks take root in corrupted soil and a boy called Jack strays between love, marriage equality, legislation and folklore. “Atkins’ script is superb. It’s original, it’s funny throughout and when it needs to, it certainly gets you thinking:” The Brag, Sydney.

In an anonymous child care centre, somewhere in the city, there’s a nasty cough going around. At the same time four children gather to tell stories of Brian, a monster that lives at the top of a newly-sprung tree. Soon this innocent playtime curdles and infects the lives of three parents whose own sense of reality comes into question.